Automatic flood and power dam



F. w. GRILLICHI AUTPMA T IQEFLOOD AND POWER DAM. APPucAnoN rufso Nov. 21 1921.

1,438,913. Patented c-12,1922.

- INVENTOR. (qt-Muck W. fi/ZL/CH.

i U3 I I g I k f pl v H g o [L J Q ATTORNEY.

Patented Dee, 12, 1922.

rnrnnron w. GRiLLIGI-L or rnnrr naroms, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC rtoon nun rowan nan.

Application filed November 21, 1921. Serial No. 516,638.

T0 all whom may concern:

Be it known that l, Iiinnunon W. (initriion', a citizen of Germany. residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic water thereagainst will maintain the gate,

in an upright, operable position. and which will pivot on its axis in the event the water reaches a certain height above the pivotal point of the gate thereby permitting the, water to escape both above and below the gate.

' A further feature of the invention is the PI'OVISIOH of means for causing the gate to,

assume its normal upright position as the volume of water recedes so that a constant supply of water is maintained for powe or other purposes,

A further feature of the invention is in so constructing the parts of the gate that a very strong and durable structure will be provided while the cost thereof,will, be,

maintained at a minimum. Y

A further feature of the inventlon '18 the provision of springpressed means for form} ing a packing at the ends of the gate toprevent undue leakage of water between the gate and its retaining walls. p

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means at the lower edge of the gate tor forming a seal between the gate and the base portion of the structure. y

Other objects and advantages will be here inafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan. viewof the cornbined flood and power dam,

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an. elevation of the inner face of one end wall of the structure,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view as seen on line 5- -5, Figure 4, i

Figure 6 is a detail elevation of the gate removed from its retaining walls, H

Figure 7 is an end elevation thereof, and Figure i 8 is a detail ,top plan view of the gate. a a Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the gate, portion of the darnfQ the supporting abutinents therefor, and 3 abase for the abutments, the base and abutments being preferably constructed of, a concrete H13, terial and built into the, bed of the stream, a

and in the event the stream is of considerable width any number, ofaux hary abutnuinber oi? gate sections.

The gateportron 1 is ments 4 may be provided for supporting a to the opposite taceso f which are attached sheets metal 6 andrto addmstrength' to the gate structure so formed'the spaces between, the l bearns andthe plates on opposite ,ifaces thereofi are preferably filled,

with concrete, as best shown at 7 in Fig ure 8, i l

i'littachedto the down stream face side of the gate 1 are bearing. blocks 8 through which is extended arod 9, the ends ofsaid rod pivoting in the abutment/s, and 111 order-to: cause the gate to automatically open preferably con structed, 0f vertically arranged I- beams 5 when the volume of water has increased to U a certain deptlnthe bearing blocks and rod are positioned below the horizontal axlal center of the gate, consequently when the water has reached a certain height the gate will be overbalanced and caused to open,-

sufioiently to permit theexcess volume of water to escape As the volume of water recedes the pressure of the water against the lower portion of the gate will cause the: gate to gradually close and shut oil the escape of the water, thereby maintaining the vol urns of'water einployed for power or other purposes substantially at a uniform flow.

in the event of a flood or the volume of water increases to such an extent as to swing the upper edge of the gate to its extreme position, cushioning springs 10 are entered in pockets 11 in the abutments for engagewater has receded to its normal level.

To prevent undue leakage of' w'at'er below the lower edge ofthe gate 1, a bar 13 may be =partially"imbetldedfiirr the base 3 "with which contaets aninclinedfiange 114 of "an" y I'Ound f crosssectiom th flange m will readily ride 'over the exposed ia'ce of thebar and form-a substan-tially water "tight connection therewith, but such connection will not-in any" manner interfere witli the To prevent the assage "of water-between the *end"s-"o f the"; gate and the supporting abutnients,-**sealingpads" 16 are provided" which-press against the ends ofthe "gate and wh'ic are supported by the abu tments, each seanngpaw haying pliiralitfx of stems :17 which enter recesses l8 in-th'j abutments, and

surrounding-- these "stems are compression springs "19 which fforcethe"sealingpads 3 5" against the ends? of the gate. Each-"sealing pad is provided with' a channel 20, the fiafigesmf whit'fh" 'enter the recess 18 and" prevent the-passage of the water between thesealing' pads "and" th *fa6es--of-'tl1e abut- 40 merits. I It will thus be seen that I haveprovided a comparatively cheap "form of flood and power dam and'at the same time {one that will'be extremely strong and durable, and it desired'a n adddnumber'of I beamsmay be used at the longitudinal "central portion jot the" gate t'liereby'iincreasing thef streligth thepoint"of greatest strainf It wiltil'ik'ewise be "seeir'that' thevolume W ried by the pads adapted tb close'p'assagebe 5 0 :tiiratef used ilo r'" powera d :dth

will be maintained sub'stanti'a i orm'ilow owing toth automaticandfby' causing the 'gate to wing-with the movementofitsup'per edge downstreammr of the gate towards a Vertical positionasthe pressure of the wateron the gatedere'ases, the spring serving to elevate the top edge-- 10 of the gate until thepressureofthewater;-

on the lower edge thereof will automatically close the gate when" the voltlm e of at a unt operation usual destructive effect of the water, such as results where the excess volume of water passes over the top of the dam.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1.- Inan" automatic Hood and power dam thecombination'with a base and supporting abu-tments thereon, of one or more gates between saidabutments;"means for pivotally connecting the gates with the abutments, a1i='angle' -'plate far forming a seal at the lower edge of the gate, a bar circular in cross *section'undpartly embedded in said base, the exposed portlon of said bar being adapt-- ed for engagementwith one'flange of said angle plate, and prnig pressed'sealing pads 2. In anautomatic floodand power dam, a gate constructio "comp'rl's ng a pllliallty otvertrcal'ly dlsposed Ibeams," met'alllc' sheets attached'toopposite faces of the I beams, and a concrete mixtureintroduced between'fsaid' plates and entirely enclosing 3. 111 anautomatic'flood and power dam, thecombination withfa base supporting abutments having pockets therein, of a gate structure 'pivo'tally "mounted betweenjsaid abu tm'ents, arms at'the ends'of said ate,

cushioning springsin said pockets adapted tobe engage'd' by said arms forcushioning v and'controlllng the swingmg movement of the gate and for returning said gate sub stantially"toits"'initial' position," an angle plat-es'ec'ur'ed at'the lower edge ofs'aid gate and a 1)ar'-'c 1rcular 'mcross section and par tiallyfembeddeid' in said" basepthe exposed portion-0f said bar adapted for'engagement with one flange of said. angle plate for formlnga seal? 4:; In an automatic Hood and power dam,

the combination with" supporting abutments and a' gate structiire pivotally mounted he'- fftween saidiabutments,ofealirig pads between th"e"en'ds of gateand said abutments," st eri 11s"on said pad',"cushioning springs for l'i'oldingthepads against the ends of the gate 'und'ei" pressure jand'cha'nnel plates car tween 'theisealing'pad's and the abu tmentsi lnflwitness' whereof; "I havehereunto set my handand' seal at Indianapolis,Indiana,

mnssemr this 15th dayof' November, A. D. nineteen 

